May 2020

WAC Charity 1 mile and Team Time Trial 13/5 to 24/5

14/05/2020 16:32:20

We have now set up the second virtual challenge using the Open Track platform.
Our challenge is to complete a 1 mile run to support the 2.6 campaign that you will have seen announced in connection with the London marathon postponement recently.
The challenge is free for all WAC members to take part in with a suggested minimum donation of £2 to Weston Hospicecare, our chosen charity.
Run 1 mile on a course chosen by you any time between 13/5/20 and 20:00 on the 24/5/20.
Your run should be completed solo and take notice of the applicable government restrictions. Please make sure that you maintain social distancing and give priority to pedestrians and members of the public.
Please choose a course for your safety considering: location, road crossings, surface etc. and consider the time of day that you intend to run to limit disruption to others.
Please choose a course with the start and finish close together if possible - max 2 loops. If you choose a point to point course please try to make sure that the start and finish are at the same elevation. If you do choose a point to point course a penalty may be applied for any elevation drop or favourable wind conditions.
Results will be issued on an outright time basis. The result will also go towards a team challenge with the times of the first 4 members of a team being added together.
Please enter the race as described below. Please can the captain from each team let me know the 4 (or more) members of your team so that we can add to your entry.
Please submit your 1 mile Garmin or Strava segment record to the Open Track system by 20:59 on 24/5. Detailed instructions on how to submit your result are on the Open Track site.
To register for the event go to www.Opentrack.run. You will need to look under Virtual and Competitions where you will find the WAC 1 mile Challenge dated 12 to 24 May 2020. You will need to register with Open Track before entering if you have not already done this.

Stay safe out there

05/05/2020 21:37:39

During these troubled times you would like to think everyone would be looking out for each other but unfortunately at the weekend a lady runner was subjected to harassment and verbal abuse whilst running in a country lane in the Weston area.

A vehicle with 3 males slowed down and followed the runner for a time, after verbally harassing her they stopped in front blocking the route. Luckily thanks to taking a calm approach and running round the back of the vehicle and quickly reaching a more populated area no physical harm was done but it must have been a very unnerving episode to experience.

The runner in question is fine but has asked me to warn you that unfortunately there are these people around and about the advice received from the police office that the incident was reported to.

The officer advised that, if you are nervous or concerned about running alone when taking your daily exercise, it would be a completely acceptable reason for running with one other person (not of your household) as long as current social distancing rules are observed.

You should not need to but unfortunately you also need to think about: where you are going to run, what time of day, who knows where you are going and when you expect to be back. You should also take a fully charged phone with you.